A federal appeals court overturns a ruling by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office that a bone plate patent owned by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Synthes is valid, handing a win to orthopedics rival Smith & Nephew. A federal appeals court handed a win to Smith & Nephew (FTSE:SN, NYSE:SNN) in its patent battle with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary Synthes, overturning a decision by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office that a Synthes-owned patent for a bone plate is valid.